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"Tailgates and Substitutes" by Solid Air   Order CD Sound Files & Ordering

****4 Stars In the Americana music scene it's, without any doubt, one of the best releases for this year. Ê"Tailgates and Subsitutes" includes 10 original songs and 2 beautiful covers. Let's start with the covers, because most of you will know them: "You Ain't Going Nowhere" (Bob Dylan). The title of the CD comes from this song and it has a shakin' mid-tempo version, sang with the artful voice of singer Allegra Broughton and her flowing 12-string guitar melting away. Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" has an intro that fits perfectly into "Lay Down Sally" and is more beautiful with the 3-voice harmony singing. Two times bingo.

Solid Air's own songs are even better than the covers of the grand masters and they are as good as the best writing of people such as Lucinda Williams (If You Took The Time), 10.000 Maniacs (In The Summertime, Taste Of Love), Gram Parsons (Whistle Of The Wheels) and Emmylou Harris. Also sounds of Richard & Linda Thompson are recognised (Old Salt Pail) and the last song (Wrap It Around Your Finger) reminds us to Chi Coltrain's (Go Like Elijah). ÊFor us, enjoyable references. For people who enjoy "Americana Roots Music", don't miss this one."Tailgates and Subsitutes" is a more than beautiful CD. Discover this band.
--(translated from original Flemish review by DJ Raymond Swennen)
Solid Air is a very good Alterna-Country rockinÕ band from northern California, fronted by vocalist Allegra Broughton, and an extremely able backup band. Broughton warbles like a bird in one breath and rocks hard when the material (most of which she wrote) demands it. Guitarist Steve Barbieri provides always-appropriate licks and the rhythm section of bassist Sam Page and drummer Rick Cutler pushes things along at an even clip. This band deserves to be heard. Good stuff.
--Bob Cianci, www.riverreporter.com, Apr. 2000.
**** These guys are from Sonoma County, where I live, but there is no denying they are a fine band that deserves to be heard far beyond their native Northern California. Their sound centers on the strong, clear, alto voice of Allegra Broughton, who is also a gifted songwriter. Their "Alt.Folk" style is straight guitars, bass and drums, somewhere between the We Five and 10,000 Maniacs. While they sometimes rely on pop song structures and there's a unfailing root feel to their sound. Two well-chosen cover tunes help rather then hurt this release. The first is the Byrds classic, (where the album title comes from) "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" and they also tear up Johnny Cash's rockabilly gem "Get Rhythm". Without sounding too biased, I gotta say this is a tight and talented band with a bunch of strong songs. Shouldn't that be enough?
--Freight Train Boogie, Sept. 1999.
The band's latest disc, "Tailgates And Substitutes" (Globe Records), is an unpretentious set of refreshing covers and originals. The country-rock of "Whistle Of The Wheels" and the more rootsy rock of "Take A Walk" are impressive, while "In The Summertime" evokes a good-time pop sensibility. The group also offers up a nice arrangement of Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm," which features a good vocal from Allegra Broughton.
--Mich Skidmore, Independents Daze, Relix Wagazine, Feb, 2000
A Californian quartet, led for the past 12 years by singer Allegra Broughton, whose style lies somewhere between folk rock (with a very good retake on Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere") and country rock, which includes a version of Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm." ÊThey also offer very well conceived original numbers such as "Whistle of the Wheels," which brings back memories of Gram Parsons, an excellent "Little Bird," and especially a light "In the Summertime," which evokes vacations of adolescence of the more or less distant past...
--Bernard Boyat, French DJ and columnist for Le Cri du Coyote
**** (4 stars out of pos 5)
OK, will beseffen dat onze aansporing bij de vorige plaat van Solid Air niet echt veel heeft uitgehaald, u heeft onze goede raad massaal genegeerd en u bent met met z'n allen de platenboer gaan belegeren om "Heartbreak Town" in te slaan. Hier komt dus uw tweede kans: er is een nieuwe van deze San Francisco Bay Band en ze is zo mogelijk nog beter dan de vorige.

In het hoekje Americana is deze plaat zondermeer te beschouwen als één van de beste releases van dit jaar. Tien eigen songs en twee schitterende covers zijn deze keer het dieet. Laten we beginnen bij de covers, omdat u de originelen daarvan natuurlijk al kent: "You Ain't Goin Nowhere" van Bob Dylan, waaruit overigens de titel van deze cd geplukt werd, krijgt een wiebelende mid-tempo versie mee, gedragen door de krachtige stem van zangeres Allegra Broughton en drijvend op een twaalfsnarengitaar om bij weg te smelten. Johnny Cash' "Get Rhythm" heeft een intro die perfect zou passen op "Lay Down Sally" en wordt lichtjes fantastisch door de driestemmige zang in het refrein. Twee keer bingo, als bet ware. De eigen songs doen nauwelijks onder voor die van de Grote

Meesters en kunnen zonder moeite postvatten naast het beste werk van mensen als Lucinda Williams ("If You Took The Time"), 10.000 Maniacs ("In The Summertime" en "Taste of Love"), Gram Parsons ("Whistle of the Wheels") of Ernmylou Harris. Ook echootjes van Richard & I Linda Thompson vallen waar te nemen ("Old Salt Pail") en het slotnummer 'Wrap It Around Your Finger" deed ons denken aan Chi Colttane's "Go Like Elijah." Voorwaar, wat ons betreft, leuke referenties. Als u uw muziekjes graag betrekt uit de sector "Amerikaanse roots," dan mag u deze keer de kans niet missen: Tailgates & Substitutes is namelijk een zéér prima plaatje. Ontdek deze band, al was het maar omwille van hun naam.
--DH - Laser Op Scherp, Rootstown Music Mag#8, Belgium.


English translation: "----OK, we know that our pushing for "HeartbreakTown" of "Solid Air" had not much results, all of you have ignored our good intentions to go to the stores and buy that great CD.  But don't worry, here comes your second chance because there's a new one from this San Francisco Bay band and this one is even better than "Heartbreak Town". In the Americana music scene it's, without any doubt, one of the best releases for this year.  "Tailgates and Subsitutes" includes 10 own songs and 2 beautiful covers. Let's start with the covers, because most of you will know them "You Ain't Going Nowhere"(Bob Dylan).

The title of the CD comes from this song and it is a sneaky mid-tempo version, sung with a crafty voice of singer Allegra Broughton and a flowing 12-string guitar to be smelting away. Johnny Cash's "Get Rhythm" has an intro who fits perfect into "Lay Down Sally" and is more beautiful with the 3-voice singing. Two times bingo. Solid Air's own songs are even better as the covers of the grand masters and they are as good as the best writing of people such as Lucinda Williams (If You Took The Time), 10.000 Maniacs (In The Summertime, and, Taste Of Love), Gram Parsons (Whistle Of The Wheels) of Emmylou Harris. Also little sounds of Richard and Linda Thompson are recognised (Old Salt Pail) and the last song (Wrap It Around Your Finger) reminds us of Chi Coltrain's (Go Like Eijah). For us, enjoyable references.

For people who enjoy "Americana Roots music" don't miss this one. "Tailgates and Subsitutes" is a more than a beautiful CD. Discover this band, even it's only for their name. ****(means 4-stars which is very high)."
"Heartbreak Town" by Solid Air   Order CD Sound Files & Ordering
"Melissa Etheridge meets Bruce Hornsby in a Nashville type of thing."
--Dirty Linen Magazine, #66 Oct./Nov. 1996.
"Folk-rock with splashes of Country, Celtic and jazz. Smooth 'n' breezy, familiar yet original."
--Folk Roots Magazine, June '96, U.K.
'Mature songwriting and polished instrumental chops... an enormously gifted band... soulfully incandescent vocals. A compelling listen."
--Chris Garcia, The Press Democrat, CA, Aug. 1996
Solid Air are a Northern Californian based duo of singer and guitarist Allegra Broughton and bassist Sam Page. "Heartbreak Town"is their fourth album and a little gem it is too. Their trade is folk-rock in the American/English crossover style with strong lyrics and dynamic performances. Allegra Broughton's voice sends shivers down the spine on "Stay" and "The Beating Of My Heart" neatly compliment songs like "End Of The Century" where that West Coast laid back swagger reigns supreme. The jury's verdict is that Solid Air are going from strength to strength and "Heartbreak Town" is their strongest and most confident effort to date and their back catalogue was pretty nifty so that's really saying something..Investigate.
--John O'Regan, Rock 'N' Reel Magazine

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"Love and Desire" by Solid Air   Order CD Sound Files & Ordering

"Far catchier than most of the fare on radio these days. Three-1/2 Stars."
--Larry Kelp, Oakland Tribune, Aug. 1992
"CRITIC'S CHOICE. A kind of down-home meeting of the Flying Burrito Brothers and Gregson & Collister...fits smoothly into country/folk/Celtic while striking into original territory."
--Derk Richardson, S.F. Bay Guardian, Aug. & Dec. 1992
"..the quite wonderful Solid Air in a folk/country/light jazz mode - reminded me of the great work of Ian & Sylvia."
--Philip Elwood, S.F. Examiner, June 1993

"HIT LIST - over the top."
--Acoustic Guitar Magazine, July/Aug. 1993
"...writing is solid and unpretentious. Broughton & Page's voices blend and wrap you up like faded denim and leather. These folks know what they're doing and they make it sound effortless." .
--Performing Songwriter Magazine, Mar./Apr. 1995
"Country-tinged West Coast folk-rock...smooth harmonies. Lyrics speak of highways, dreams and open skies; their craft is well-honed and engaging."
--Folk Roots, Nov. '90 (England)
"Nashville without the glitz."
--Dirty Linen Magazine, Feb./Mar. 1993

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"Stand Up for Love" by Solid Air   Order CD Sound Files & Ordering

"Country-tinged West Coast folk-rock...smooth harmonies. Lyrics speak of highways, dreams and open skies; their craft is well-honed and engaging."
-- Folk Roots (England), Nov. 1990.
"Underpinnings of jazz along with traditional American folk influences. This is the type of song I can hear over and over again and not get tired of it."
-- Dirty Linen Magazine #30, Oct. 1990.
"Blending guitar, bass and vocals to create a harmonic whole that is at once riveting and ethereal. Broughton's image-laden poetry is a joy to listen to."
-- Cabaret Notebook, May 1990.

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Assorted Awards

1999 Allegra receives The 4th Annual Carl Zimmerman Memorial Award
May 1994 Fast Folk Musical Magazine - featured song "Postcard"
1992 "WAMMIES" Nominees, S.F. Weekly's Alternative Music Awards
1989 New Folk Finalists --Kerrville Folk Festival, Texas

Roots-based original music for listening and dancing, featuring songwriter/vocalist/ guitarist Allegra Broughton and bassist/vocalist Sam Page.


For more info check out the Solid Air home page or email us or call (707) 778-1466 or write: P O Box 733, Penngrove CA 94951

Sun .au audio Sound files from the new album await in our Catalog

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Last Updated 13/April/2007.